Improved caster-wheel for harvesters



. waited gister ISAAC' s. nUssELL'or NEW MARKER/MARYLAND, AND HENRY n.

RUSSELL, OF WOODBURY, NEW JERSEY.

Lem-rs Patent No. 95,383, daad samba 2s, 1869.

nvrrnovnn enema-wanen ron Benvrisrnns.

To all whoml it may concern y Be it known that we, ISAG S. RUSSELL, of New Market, in Frederick county, and State of Maryland, and HENRY R. BUssnLL, of Woodbury, in Gloucester county, and State of New Jersey, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Caster-Wheels for Harvesters; and we do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming part of this specification, and in which- Figure 1 represents a side elevation of the wheel, and that portion of the machine to which it is attached;

Figure 2 is a top view of the same;

Figure 3, a front view and Figure 4, a. rear View of the bracket-attachment, with the wheel swung outwardly.

The' same letters indicate corresponding parts in the several figures. U i l This invention may be regarded as an additional improvement on patents No. 67,914 and 81,215; and it consists in connecting the wheel-supporting or swinging bracket with the frame of the harvester door, by a vertical pin passing through a fixed bracket, pro. vided with a cam-like bearing-edge, oi' such form as to retain said swinging bracket in a fixed position, under ordinary circumstances, but to admit of its swinging outwardly on meeting with obstruction, or in turning curves, to avoid lateral drag-on the ground over which it is passing.

Referring to the drawing- A represents the platform of a harvester;

B, the dividing-nger; and

C, the supporting-wheel, which revolves on an axle, so connected with the caster-bar D as to be capable of having a limited lnotion in the arc of a circle aroundA the vertical pin E, which `connects it with the said bar D.

The bracket E is rigidly attached to the dividingfinger B, or other suitable iiaming of the machine, and

,to this is hinged the caster-bar D, by a pin, G, passing vertically, or nearly so, through them, which admits of said bar, and with it the caster-wheel, swinging round to the extent of half a circle, or thereabouts, and still retaining a position vertical, or nearly so.

`'lhis bracket F has a cam-like formation, as shown at a, `in iig. 4, by which the caster-bar D is retained in position, until the wheel C meets with obstruction, or is inclined to drag upon the ground, by the motion of the machine in turningvcurves, when the resistance to' its travel will cause the, cam a to ride the edge of the bar D, and allow it to assume a position inwvhich the wheel will rotate without strain or drag.

0n the side of the frame of the flooring ofthe machine is a projection, h, which, under certain circumstances, acts as a retainer, to insure the parallel'position of the axle of the caster-wheel, with relation to theaxle of the main wheel of the machine; for instance, in backing the machine, in a direct line, without said stop or projection, h, thc inner endV of the swingingaxle 4of the caster-wheel would 'be forced forward, and cause said wheel to assume a position `angular to the motion of the machine, and thereby carry the caster outwardly, until its support-ing bar, D, would swing aroundk half of a circle; but by the application' of sairlstop, 1r, the axle 0f the centre-wheel is retained in a line parallel to the axle of the main wheel, so long as they are .moving in a direction at right angles to their axes; but so soon as the motion is such that the caster-wheel describes the arc of a circle around the main wheel,fin a backwardly direction, its axle becomes free from said stop, and is allowed to assume a position' in a radial line from the axis ot' the main wheel, and thus to turn the curve without drag ou the ground.A

' \Vhat we claim as new, and 'desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination and arrangement ofthe bracket F, having a cam, a, with the swinging caster-bar D,

substantiallyas and for-the purpose set forth.

2. The bracket F, having cam` a., and supporting the swinging caster-bar D, in combination with the vibrating axle of the caster-wheel C, substantially asl Y' shown and described.-

3; The arrangement of the stop or projection h, iny

4combination with the vibrating axle of the casterwheel O,- suhstantially as 'and for the purpose set forth.'

In testimony whereof, we have hereunto signedour.

names,before two subscribing witnesses.

ISAAC S. RUSSELL.

HENRY It. RUSSELL.

Witnesses z Jnssn C. Hsrnns, Geo. H. Sownns. 

